| Description | The research activity focus mainly on the pharmacological regulation of synaptic transmission by endogenous (neurosteroids, thyroid hormones) or exogenous substances (newly synthetized drugs, natural origin extracts). Current research topics include: 1.) Development of allosteric modulators of glutammatergic neurotransmission, (mediated by AMPA, NMDA and Kainate receptors) as novel therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases. 2.) Study of the fast modulatory action of thyroid hormones at the level GABAergic, Glutammatergic e Colinergic neurotransmission. 3.) In vitro evaluation of the pharmacological properties of compounds of natural orgin. 4.) Study of the modulation of by neurosteroids, endogenous regulators of synaptic inhibition and excitation at the level of neuronal networks and analysis of their effect on the biophysical properties of lipid membranes. We are using a functional approach employing electrophysiological techniques (patch -clamp in the whole-cell configuration) and recording synaptic or evoked using both native neurones in dissociated culture, sliced preparations. suitable cell lines or cell lines expressing recombinant receptors. Toxicity experiments are performed in primary cultures. |
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| Instrumentation | electrophysiology set up (upright icroscope, amplifyer, puller, micro manipulators, antivibration table, A/D converter); Tissue culture equipments( incubators, hoods, inverted microscope) |
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